The Covenant Soup Kitchen’s mission is to address the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs of those that come through their doors by providing not only food, but an environment of care, love, support and safety. Volunteers assist in greeting clients, preparing and distributing meals and attending to the needs of the clients. The Covenant Soup Kitchen is located at walking distance from campus. Volunteer opportunities vary from 9:00AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday.

Tuesday 7:00-8:00PM: Volunteers assist the Special Olympics swim team coaches and their team practices. Volunteers will be paired up one-on-one with athletes. Volunteers need to be able to swim with the athletes. The programs have coaches in the water as well and on the deck at all times. Lifeguards will be on site throughout the entire program. The Windham High School is located at walking distance from Eastern, across High Street. Transportation will not be provided.

Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (WAIM) – uplifts and unites the community by providing caring services and resources to meet the needs of the community. They provide clothing, furniture, appliances, linens, career clothing and emergency financial assistance to over 8,000 people each year from Windham and twelve surrounding towns. Volunteers will arrange tasks with the organization’s director, but could include assisting with client check-in’s, assist the program director and case managers with office work, sorting clothing and donation items. Volunteer opportunities range from 9 am – Noon PM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Saturday’s are currently full.

Windham Middle School Family Liaison Programs in Willimantic, CT works cooperatively with students, adult family members, school staff and community partners to remove barriers that prevent students from learning. Liaisons function as intermediaries and advocates, providing students with proactive preventative services which promote success; socially, behaviorally, and academically, through deliberate and effective targeted family interactions. Hours are flexible and can be arranged throughout the semester from 8AM – 6PM. Responsibilities include preparing event flyers, assisting with the parenting room, assisting in developing and implementing ideas on how to engage parents in-school activities, assisting with After-School Programs for middle school programs. The volunteer requirements include: good computer skills, own laptop preferred, Spanish skills preferred but not required.

Public Health Ambassadors- Registration is Closed

CHSC- Public Health Ambassadors – various sites in Willimantic, CT. Public Health Ambassadors are responsible for educating the community on health education. They fulfill the needs of the community by studying the population, addressing their specific needs, and then creating lesson plans around those particular health concerns. Volunteers will complete a total of 10 service hours and program site options will work from elementary school children to adults. Training will be on Monday, February 2nd from 7-8PM in the Student Center, Rm. 219

4th Tuesday of each month 12:45-2:15 PM. Connecticut Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry at the First Congregational Church of Willimantic. The Mobile Food Pantry Program is an outreach program designed to bring food directly to neighborhoods where low income people lack access to food assistance programs or supplement the efforts of existing food assistance programs that cannot provide enough food to meet the growing need. In Willimantic, the pantry is hosted by the First Congregational Church. Eastern volunteers assist with food distribution at the church parking lot located at 199 Valley Street on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Student can sign up for one or more days on January 27th, February 24th, March 24th and April 28th. Site is located within walking distance from campus.

Monday-Friday 10am-11am: The Connecticut Community Center for Addiction and Recovery strives to “put a positive face on recovery” by connecting Eastern students to local residents who are recovering from a life altering drug and/or alcohol addiction. Students have the opportunity to assist CCAR members in applying for jobs, building their resume, practicing interviewing skills, etc. Additionally, students will be able to lead workshops that apply to his or her major. *Tuesday and Wednesday volunteer slots are filled*

High Chase is a group home in Willington, CT where about 30 residents live. The individulas living there have either mental, emotional, or intellectual disabilities and most are very high functioning. Volunteers from Eastern visit once a week to play games, make crafts, and simply hang out with the residents. Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times:

St. Joseph Living Center has an extensive recreational department that works with residents to keep them physically and mentally active. The residents love when students come to visit so they can share their stories and work along side them on projects. *Note: In order to volunteer at St. Joseph you must attend a training session, get a PPD shot, and the flu vaccine. Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times:

Monday through Friday 9:30-11:30am with additional times on Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00-4:00pm.

Vanderman Place (formerly Regency Heights) is a residential community that provides short and long term care to its patients. Volunteers aid in the therapeutic recreation department, especially for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Students can aid in giving them constant interaction and stimulus. The goal is to help all resident’s feel welcome to the institution and involve them in the multitude of activities the recreation department has to offer. Residents in the facility are relatively younger than regular nursing and rehabilitation center -under 60 years old. *Note: Volunteers will need to complete a Health form, verify their status with the Connecticut Sex offender list and attend an orientation. Volunteers may be asked to be screened for Tuberculosis (PPD Test). Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times:

Guests of the First Baptist Church are generally homeless and/or very low income earners with mental illness and substance abuse problems. They often cannot or do not access health care for many reasons. This program aims to fill these gaps in health literacy by providing this MUP (medically under-served population) with health education demonstrations during their dinner period. Specifically, volunteers are promoting the concepts of wellness and disease prevention for the clients and their families. The clients are also shown how to access care in their local medical system.Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times:

Tuesdays 4:45pm-5:45pm

No Freeze Hospitality Center- Registration is closed

Each year the Windham Region No Freeze Hospitality Center, Inc. welcomes students who are seeking volunteer opportunities at our shelter. Below is a list of current volunteer opportunities based on the needs of the shelter. We realize that each of you bring your own special talents and interests to the shelter, and if you would like to volunteer doing something that is not listed, please let those at No Freeze know through us, the CCE. Activities can be held at the shelter, in the community or on campus.

Established opportunities include Staff and Guest Support, Office Support, Facilities Support, Program Support through Fund Raising, and Grassroots Activism.To find out more about the center and it’s opportunities visit www.nofreeze.org. Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times:

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7:00-11:00pm and Sundays 1:00-5:00pm.

Eastern volunteers assist with the inmate rehabilitation process by tutoring male inmates to take their GED exam. Volunteer opportunities are available during one or more of the following times: Mondays 9:00am-12:00pm

Volunteer Budget Coach Program- Registration is Closed

United Way, in partnership with Women’s Business Development Council, is seeking volunteers to serve as budget coaches by providing financial education and tools to working families in central and northeastern Connecticut. Volunteers are trained and work one-on-one with program participant(s) to set and meet attainable financial goals. Volunteer times are set based on the volunteers and clients availabilities. Trainings will be offered from 4:30-7:30 PM on January 12 and 13 at the United Way office in Hartford, CT. Basic volunteers requirements include:

Complete CCE online application and the United Way forms

Be a good listener

Commit to monthly meeting with program participant(s)

Support participant(s) between meetings

Financial background is not required

Bilingual volunteers strongly encouraged to apply

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)- Registration is Closed

Assist individuals and families with annual incomes up to $53K to get ahead financially, pay down debt and work toward saving for the future. Students volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS and work one-on-one with residents in order to prepare federal and state income tax returns at no cost and determined qualification for tax credits and refund. Other ways on how the volunteers can assist is by managing appointments, helping filers learn about ways to save and stretch their refunds, and providing translations for filers and other volunteers.

The time commitment is a one four-hour session per week from mid-January until mid-April. Training will take place on the Eastern campus on January 9th and 10th.